Spring is coming!
Tweet, tweet, tweet, chirp the birds from their perches in the trees, increasing the power of their vocalizations. Have you seen those first cherry blossoms? Little by little, nature fills with life and colors. There’s no doubt: spring is coming!
Of the four seasons that mark the year, spring proves to be my favorite, satisfying my various senses. My taste buds tingle at the thought of Easter and chocolate eggs. It’s also the season that warms my motherly heart with my child’s birthday.
To properly celebrate the arrival of spring, we suggest trading your wicker basket – don’t forget to read our previous article on Easter activities with family – for a net, and take you on a discovery of a surprising place, unique in its architecture resembling a cocoon in full metamorphosis: the Borboletário João Pedro Cardoso da Conceição. The kids will love it!
Float like a butterfly!
Located in the urban park Quinta de Rana (Cascais), this space is dedicated to butterfly breeding. In an indoor garden, it’s possible to observe local species flying freely while learning more about their life cycle. Inside, a laboratory – accessible only through guided tours – allows biologists to create eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalises. It’s an observation and learning experience to be shared with family, aiming to contribute to the awakening and interest in nature conservation and biodiversity from a young age.
2 options to visit the Borboletário João Pedro Cardoso da Conceição:
Free Visit | No prior appointment required. Visitors can explore the corners of the garden and discover the mysterious world of butterflies without the accompaniment of a guide.
Guided Tour | Lasting about 60 minutes, this tour led by a guide includes a visit to the garden and inside the laboratory. Themes such as butterfly biology, their relationship with plants, and their importance in ecosystem balance will be addressed. Cost: €3.50 per person.
Winter Makeover
Exciting news: after several months of closure, the Borboletário João Pedro Cardoso da Conceição reopens its doors this month, completely renovated! For the occasion, on March 23rd and 24th, Cascais Ambiente is organizing a series of activities aimed at promoting the new space.
March 23rd
11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Guided Tour of the Butterfly Garden
Join this free guided tour to discover the new space and the butterflies that inhabit it. (Activity for families with child(ren) aged 10 and above.)
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm: Workshop “Butterfly Identification”
Learn to identify the different butterflies of Cascais and how these lepidopterans are preserved. (Activity for families with child(ren) aged 6 and above.)
March 24th
10:30 am – 12:00 pm: Workshop “Butterfly and Caterpillar Photography”
Learn to photograph butterflies and caterpillars! Come see these insects from a different perspective! Mandatory equipment: digital camera or cell phone. Optional equipment: tripod and flash. (Activity for families with child(ren) aged 8 and above.)
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Workshop “Stamp and Butterfly”
Inspired by the butterfly life cycle, create EVA foam stamps that you can take home. (Activity for families with child(ren) aged 6 and above.)
Gaia and Demeter
At a time when screens are taking up more and more space in our lives – and in those of our children! – it seems important to me, as a mother, to reconnect with the earth. Whether it’s the Borboletário João Pedro Cardoso da Conceição, the Tapada Nacional de Mafra, the Centro de Recuperação do Lobo Ibérico, dinosaur footprints at Pedra da Mua, our selection of places aims to restore a close connection with Mother Nature. The same goal applies to our events: family hikes – or even with your dog! (dog trekking) – farm immersions, storytelling or yoga sessions in the forest, environmental awareness workshops, beach clean-ups, or micro-forest planting…
Awaken active citizenship in your child in a playful way with these events and more in our newsletter.
